Mileage war had Second District Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Third District Rep. Arthur Yap pitted against each other.

This came after Aumentado insinuated that Yap is facilitating the lobbying of three major projects to be implemented in the second district for foreign funding just to gain mileage for a future political positioning.

Yap, however, rebutted this and clarified that as chair of the House of Representative Committee on Economic Affairs, he is only responding to the call of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to facilitate pre-legislative measures such as lobbying more than a hundred projects to be implemented nationwide for foreign funding where three projects indorsed by the Provincial Development Council and the Regional Development Council (RDC)-7 are to be implemented in Bohol.

These are the Norheast Basin Hydro-Power dam project, Cebu-Bohol Friendship Bridge, and the Malinao Dam Upgrading.

As the issue shaped a public opinion that it is actually a turf war, DyRD Inyong Alagad decided to conduct a survey on who between Yap and Aumentado deserves better to be the next governor.

Since Gov. Edgar Chatto is on his last term now, the gubernatorial race in 2019 will be open to fresh entries.

In the radio survey on Monday, Yap garnered more supporters than Aumentado as to preference for governor to replace Chatto in 2019.

Those who picked Yap cited efficient service to the people such as facilitating numerous projects in the third district, his national connection, long experience in public service, visibility to the people where he had visited all the 436 barangays in his district, extending medical assistance, scholarships, housing project for earthquake victims through Rebuild Bohol Foundation which Yap formed, generosity, adequate attention to the needs of the constituents, among others.

Those who picked Congressman Aumentado cited the legacy of his father- -the late Congressman Erico Aumentado who had served as governor for three terms, his being a true Boholano- -having been born and raised in Bohol, projects implemented in his district including those incepted during the time of his father, continuity of his father’s legacy, among others.

Some of Aumentado’s supporters theorized that a Bohol-grown politician is better than a “naturalized” Boholano.

Yap’s supporters rebutted this, saying that there is no guaranty that only Bohol-grown politicians can do good for Bohol.

Others said having been born in Bohol or not is no longer an issue, because Yap is a Filipino and had already served the people of Bohol.

The survey also showed that Aumentado got supporters from first and second districts, while Yap has from all the three districts.

Majority of Aumentado’s supporters who participated in the survey came from Tagbilaran City.

On the other hand, it was noted that Yap got spread out support from Ubay, Dagohoy, Maribojoc, Garcia-Hernandez, Bilar, Loay, Inabanga, and Tagbilaran, among others.

Those coming from outside third district who preferred Yap said they had noticed the attention that Yap had given to his district and wanted such to be extended to their areas.

Aumentado was also credited by supporters for the projects that his father had implemented in Bohol during the latter’s stint as governor and congressman of second district.

Both Yap and Aumentado, however, were described by their supporters as approachable, humble, project-oriented, responsive, and dedicated.

Both Yap and Aumentado also had supporters saying they both have performed well in public service. Some supporters of Aumentado said both of them are actually good, but they prefer Aumentado. Some supporters of Yap also said both of them are actually good, but they prefer Yap.

There were suggestions though that Vice-Gov. Dionisio Balite and First District Rep. Rene Relampagos should also be included in the survey. But DyRD Inyong Alagad had explained that since it is connected to the public opinion that a turf war had erupted between Yap and Aumentado, the survey had to be limited between the two as the choices.

There was also a suggestion that it would be better for Aumentado to opt for a third term in Congress since he is still on his second term, while Yap is already on his third term as congressman.